Method of finishing hat-bodies.



J. V. WALSH.

METHOD OF FINISHING HAT BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. I915.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

m1 co.. wpsum JOHN V. WALSH, OF T IAVERHILL, MASSACH'U'SETTS.

METHOD or FINISHING HAT-rooms.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed An 31, 1915.

Application filed January 19, 1915. Serial 3,150.

To all whom it may 0011 mm:

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. VVALsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, Essex county, and State of Massachusetts, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Tmprovements in Methods of Finishing Hat-Bodies, of which the following is aspecification.

My said invention consists in an improved method of finishing hat bodies, whereby a peculiar and attractive appearance is given to the hat, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an ordinary hat buffing, or pouncing, machine, such as is used in common methods of finishing hat bodies, and which I also employ in my improved method.

In said drawing the portion marked A represents the frame or support, B the shaft carrying the operating element, such as a bu'liing head, or emery wheel, 0 such clement, D an arm carrying the support for the hat body while being operated upon, E said support, shown in dotted lines, F a foot lever for manipulating said support, G a driving belt, and H a hat body in position for manipulation and treatment by the operating element under the manipulation of the operator. All these features are of common form and arrangement, well understood in the art, and need no special description. In the face of the supporting head E a groove is formed in which is mounted a cushion 6, preferably a section of rubber hose covered by a cloth, thus affording a soft elastic support for the work.

In the practice of my invention, a felt hat body, prepared from either wool or fur felt in the usual or any approved manner, is first treated by subjecting its surface to the action of a coarse abrasive material on the surface of the bufiing or pouncing wheel, such as C, of the machine. In this treatment, the hat body under the manipulation of the operator is brought into contact with the abrasive surface and turned parallel with the edge of the body, or subjected to a treatment extending in a circular direction around said body. Then it is subjected to similar treatment under the action of a fine abrasive material, or sandpaper, on the sur face of the bufling wheel. It is then subjected to a treatment by the coarse sandpaper, but in a direction across the direction of the first and second treatments, that is, the hat body is manipulated over support E so as to bring its surfaces into contact with the wheel along lines running from the rim of the body to the crown. This treatment runs the grain in the direction from the crown toward the rim of the hat, and is accom plished by holding the crown of the hat in the fingers and running the hat body over support E in the direction noted, across the surface of the bufiing wheel, by successive steps, until the entire circumference of the hat has been treated in this manner. This treatment produces a surface which is lustrous and silky in appearance, with the fibers lying in the vertical direction in relation to the hat instead of horizontal. After this treatment, the hat body is lured, or subjected to treatment by a felt wheel, or a wheel having a felt buffing surface, in the same direction as the last direction in which it was treated by the coarse sandpaper, that is, up and down. This treatment smooths and irons out, or polishes, the surface of the hat, giving it a lustrous and silky finish. It is then ready to be shaped, which is accomplished by the usual, or any approved' process, and during which the luster of the finish will be impaired to some extent. After the shaping is completed and the hat dried it is again subjected to the action of the felt or luring wheel and the fibers smoothed down from the crown of the hat to the rim, and the luster and silk finish restored. The hat is then ready for trimming and packing. The finish thus secured, is of a silky, lustrous appearance, with the grain running vertically, and I have termed it a velour bright finish.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of finishing hat bodies which consists in subjecting a felt hat body to a circular treatment by coarse abrasive material, then subjecting it to a similar treatment in the same direction by fine abrasive material, then subjecting it to a treatment by coarse abrasive material in a direction across the direction of the other treatments from the rim to the crown, then subjecting it to a smoothing and luring treatment by a felt wheel in a direction from the rim to the crown, then shaping, and then subjecting to another treatment by the felt wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of finishing hat bodies which consists in treating a felt hat body my hand and seal at Washington, D. C. this first, With abrasive material in a circular di- 14th day of January, A. D. nineteen hunrection, then in a direction from the rim to dred and fifteen.

the crown, then subjecting it totreatment JOHN V. WALSH. [L.S.] 5 by a luring Wheel in a direction from the NVitnesses:

rimto the crown, substantially as set forth. CHAS. E. RIORDON, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set E. G. CLEMEN'rs.

Gopies of this patent may-be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

